Calibrachoa plant named ‘JGCAL09404’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘JGCAL09404’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and mounding to eventually trailing plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance; freely flowering habit; large dark violet and close to black-colored petals with yellow-colored centers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘JGCAL09404’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘JGCAL09404’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Bonsall, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new uniform and freely-branching Calibrachoa plants with unique and attractive flower coloration, good garden performance and resistance to pathogens.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Bonsall, Calif. on Sep. 11, 2013 of Calibrachoa sp. ‘Duealkomidbu’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,487, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 11C110-02, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa plant was discovered and first selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. on Jul. 9, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. since Jul. 15, 2014 has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘JGCAL09404’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘JGCAL09404’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading and mounding to eventually         trailing plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Large dark violet and close to black-colored petals with         yellow-colored centers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa plant can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Duealkomidbu’. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of ‘Duealkomidbu’ in flower size as plants of ‘Duealkomidbu’ have smaller flowers. In addition, plants of the new Calibrachoa root faster and are more resistant to root pathogens than plants of ‘Duealkomidbu’.

The new Calibrachoa plant can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have black, yellow and red-colored petals. In addition, plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers, root faster and are more resistant to root pathogens than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the Calibrachoa sp. ‘USCAL84704’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,231. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of ‘USCAL84704’ in flower size as plants of ‘USCAL84704’ have smaller flowers. In addition, plants of the new Calibrachoa root faster and are more resistant to root pathogens than plants of ‘USCAL84704’.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the Calibrachoa sp. ‘USCAL68604’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,964. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of ‘USCAL68604’ in flower size as plants of ‘USCAL68604’ have smaller flowers. In addition, plants of the new Calibrachoa root faster and are more resistant to root pathogens than plants of ‘USCAL68604’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘JGCAL09404’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘JGCAL09404’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring in 10-cm containers in an acrylic-covered greenhouse in Carleton, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Calibrachoa production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 30° C. Plants were six weeks from planting rooted cuttings when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. ‘JGCAL09404’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Calibrachoa sp. ‘Duealkomidbu’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,487.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 11C110-02, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About 22 days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About 25 days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading and             mounding to eventually trailing plant habit; moderately             vigorous to vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate;             freely branching habit with about three to four primary             lateral branches each with about four secondary branches;             dense and bushy appearance.         -   Plant height.—About 15.3 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 24 cm by 25 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 14 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.2 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright then outwardly spreading to             eventually trailing.         -   Texture and luster.—Pubescent; matte.         -   Color, developing.—Close to 145A.         -   Color, developed.—Close to 146B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate; after flowering,             opposite; leaves simple.         -   Length.—About 2.7 cm.         -   Width.—About 1 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent,             minute; matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137C; venation,             close to 146C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 147B; venation, close to 146B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture             and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent, minute;             matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with             typically about 180 flowers and flower buds developing per             plant; flowers face upright to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Calibrachoa             begin flowering about six weeks after planting; plants             flower continuously from the spring though the summer until             frost.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about one week on             the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.6 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.             Shape: Oblong, elongate. Texture and luster: Pubescent,             minute; matte. Color: Close to 195B.         -   Flower diameter.—Large, about 4.2 cm by 4.2 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 3 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 6 mm by 8 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 2.3 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter.—Proximally, about 3 mm; distally,             about 1.2 cm.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five fused petals opening into a             flared trumpet. Petal lobe length (from throat): About             1.7 cm. Petal lobe width: About 2 cm. Petal shape:             Fan-shaped. Petal apex: Emarginate; moderately lobed. Petal             margin: Entire; moderately undulate and reflexing. Petal             texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous,             velvety; matte. Petal texture and luster, lower surface:             Pubescent, minute; matte. Throat texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous; matte. Tube texture and luster: Pubescent, minute             and primarily along the veins; matte. Color: Petal lobe,             when opening, upper surface: Close to 86B. Petal lobe, when             opening, lower surface: Close to N200D. Petal lobe, fully             opened, upper surface: Ground color, close to brighter than             86A; large wide band surrounding the throat, close to N186A;             venation, close to 79A, moderately strong to strongly             conspicuous; with development, ground color becoming closer             to 86B. Petal lobe, fully opened, lower surface: Close to             79B; venation, close to N79A; with development, color             becoming closer to 79C to 79D. Throat: Close to 12B;             venation, strongly conspicuous, close to 183B. Tube: Close             to 160D; venation, close to 187B.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five             sepals fused towards the base and arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm. Sepal             length: About 1 cm. Sepal width: About 3 mm. Sepal shape:             Lanceolate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal             texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent,             minute; matte. Sepal color, upper surface: Close to 146A.             Sepal color, lower surface: Close to 146B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Angle: About 30° to 45° from stem axis. Strength: Strong.             Texture and luster: Pubescent, minute; matte. Color: Close             to 146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five per flower.             Filament length: About 1 cm. Filament color: Close to 145C.             Anther size: About 1 mm by 1 mm. Anther shape: Round. Anther             color: Close to 8B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color:             Close to 9A. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil             length: About 9 mm. Style length: About 8 mm. Style color:             Close to 145B. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape:             Oval. Stigma color: Close to 146A. Ovary color: Close to             145B. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit development have not             been observed on plants of the new Calibrachoa. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and to be     suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Calibrachoa plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘JGCAL09404’ as illustrated and described. 